St. Bernard's

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From its founding as a mission of St. Bridget's, Simpson, by Bishop Cotter of Winona in 1896, through its fifteen resident pastors since the parish house was completed in 1919, the story of Saint Bernard's parish is its response to the ever-changing guidance of the Holy Spirit. During the first half of the century, parishioners relied on pastors whose tenure averaged twelve years.

During those years, ministry and faith formation were assumed by pastors such as Father A. H. Thuot and Father R. J. Woods. Over the years Pastoral care has become the focus of the pastors and responsibilities for much of the faith life of the community have shifted to the laity. These increasing responsibilities of the laity have been evidenced in a number of ways. One such event in 1965 involved the appointments of Mrs. Robert King to a parish Advisory Board and as a trustee of the parish. Her appointment as a trustee was the first appointment of a woman to such a position in the world-wide Catholic Church. The Religious Education /Faith Formation Program demonstrate the increasing role of the laity in parish life. After the local school district provided for released time in the 1960's, lay members took on the task of providing religious instruction. Volunteers organized and coordinated the program in addition to providing all the instruction for classes held in private homes. By the early 1950's, parishioners, guided first by Father Paul Sainsbury and then by Father Leo Neudecker, planned and built a building which was intended to be used as a parochial school. However, the changing role of nuns in their religious lives kept the laity fully involved in the religious education program. The facility would be used for catechetical instruction, but lay volunteers would continue to organize, coordinate, and operate the program until 1973 when Terry Peters became the first salaried coordinator. Assisted by an active Parish Education Committee, he and his successors, first Bruce Wagner, later Mary Brouillard, and now Carol Atkins have coordinated the Religious Education/Faith Formation Program.

Providing a house for worship has also reflected a response to a changing guidance. A frame building served the parish from its first use for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, 1897, until September, 1971, when Father A. T. Perrizo celebrated the first Mass in the current church. That frame building, designed by John Dougherty of Rochester and constructed by Ellis and Halloran of Chatfield, met the needs of the growing parish. Mr. Halloran's grandson Paul served St. Bernard's as pastor from 1975-1983). In 1970, parishioners, following the advice of the Advisory Board and convinced of the logic of doing so, voted to convert the hall of the school building into a church. That structure meets the needs of St. Bernard's until June of 2004 when the current church structure was dedicated. The bell from the original structure still calls people to worship due to the efforts of parish members who established that symbolic link to the past.

Finally, a look at the changing role of the laity in liturgical practices since the mid- 1960's reveals yet another response to a changing guidance. Under the leadership of Father LeRoy Eikens, the first Pastoral Committee was established and began to address the issue of the ministry of the laity. A separate Liturgy Committee was also formed. Changes in liturgical practices such as the offertory procession, the sign-of-peace handshake, extra-ordinary ministers of the Eucharist, and a family ministry program reveal the increased liturgical responsibilities of the laity. These liturgical changes also called for increased emphasis on the place of music in the Liturgy. In 1980, St. Bernard's hired Frank Winkels as its first Liturgist I Music director. He was followed by Kathy Brummer in 1983 and by Tracy Roeder in 1985. Since Tracy resigned in 1985, the Liturgy Committee assumed the responsibilities of the liturgist until 1996, when our present liturgist, Jeanette Fortier, was hired.

The past for St. Bernard's is a legacy of hard work, generous spirits, and loving hearts. Our present asks a continued response to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our future is the journey yet unfinished, always pointing to the Holy Spirit.

SAINT BERNARD'S PASTORAL COUNCIL

The pastor of a parish shares with the Bishop of the Diocese the responsibility to teach, govern and sanctify for the sake of building up the kingdom of God . Bishops and pastors do not do this alone. By virtue of Baptism, every Catholic has the responsibility to work to build up the Mystical Body of Christ. For the good of the parish and the Church as a whole, pastors need to consult members of the parish regarding the well-being of the parish. The parish pastoral council is the body designated for this purpose.

SAINT BERNARD'S FINANCE COUNCIL

The Code of Canon Law requires all parishes to have an active finance council. The Code mandates that in each parish there is to be a finance council to help the pastor in the administration of the goods of the parish. The finance council is ruled by the universal law of the Church and by the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop and is comprised of members of the faithful selected by the pastor according to these norms. All parishes are obliged to comply with the Code of Canon Law and diocesan norms. Parishes within the Diocese must have a strong, active and functioning finance council. The members of the council are advisory to the pastor. They provide assistance in preparing the parish budget; they monitor the revenues and expenses of the parish. The council provides advice in the care of parish buildings and grounds. Members assist in preparing the financial reports presented to the entire parish community. They review all financial reports submitted to the Diocese and sign the reports indicating that they had the opportunity to review the report and attest to the fact that the report is an accurate representation of the financial condition of the parish.